More say for local communities may help save pubs

A government pledge to give locals more control over their community assets could help safe-guard village pubs.

Under current planning legislation, a pub can be lawfully converted to a shop without further planning permission. The change can be made under what is known as permitted development rights.

Ministers have now pledged to bring forward legislation so that listing a pub as an Asset of Community Value will remove this development right, giving the local community greater powers to object to the conversion.

Kris Hopkins, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: “The passion for community pubs as demonstrated by the significant numbers listed as Assets of Community Value highlights the need to enable local communities to consider planning applications for the change of use of a pub of particular value.”

The Pear Tree pub in Hildersham faces being converted into a four-bedroom house after its owners converted it into a German furniture shop.